Improvement in harvesters



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. D. LOCKE. HARVESTER.

Patented JunelS, 1876.

r5 sheets-sheet z.

S. Il. LOCKE.

HARVESTER.

Patented :une 13, 1'876.

Inyenar:

- Aftest:

N. PETERS. PHOTO`LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGT'ON, D C.

S. D. LOGKE. HARVESTER.

5 Sheets- Sheet 3.

Patented Jun 13,1876.

\\ N. PETERS. PNoT0-L1TMoGRAFu A m N 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. D. LOCKE.

HARVESTER-- Patented June 13, 1876.

Attest.'

In Ven tor NJI'ERS. PHOTOUTHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, Dv CV 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. S. D. LOCKE.

HARVESTER.

Patented June13,1876`.

UQ #est Inyentor: @fia/2 N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Y:tm-]n STAT-Esi PATENT Gr-Flon SYLV-ANUS D. LOCKE, OF HOOSVIGK FALLS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,785, dated June 13, 1876; application filed 'March 23, 1876. Y'

Tolall 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that '1, SYLVANUS DfLOCKE, of Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer county, New` York, have invented a new and useful Im;

proveinent in Harvesters, which improvement kis fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of harvestingmachines wherein the cut grain is received upon an endless apron moving across the platform behind and parallel with the 'cutters, whereby it is moved tothe inner side of f the machine, andthere delivered to an elevator, which 'carries said grain over .the main wheel and discharges it into a receptacle, from which it is removed in'gavels, to be bound by persons riding on the machine, or by automatic binding` machinery attached to and driven by the operative mechanism of the harvesting-machine 5 and int consists, first, in enlargements of certain ofthe stripper-slots near the connection of said strippers with the supporting-beam at their outer ends, and for the Vpurpose specified; second, 'in a three-horse evenerbraee, attached to the tongue to support the three-horse evener, and vcapable of adjustment to receive an ordinary double-tree for two horses; third, i-n'a segment-rack plate for the main wheel, extended forward to inclose or constitute an inner box for the main pinion-shaft, whereby themain axle and the axis of said pinion-shaft are maintained in a vconstant relation to each other; fourth, in a' pinion-plate secured to the main axle, and provided with radial sockets for the reception of a lever, whereby said axle may be rotated to cause the saine to traverse up or down the segment-racks; fifth, in a lock or pin plate attached to the other end ot' said axle, perforated with a series of holes, through one or another of whicha pin maybe inserted to lock said plate and the Wheel together, if it is desirable to move saidaxle up or down by the revolution of said wheel; sixth, in the structure and arrangement of the grain-receptacle and binders table and footboard; seventh, in a removable chute-board, to receive the grain from the elevator and stripper and deliver' it upon the binders table or receptacle; eighth, in a movable. line-guide, through which the reins may be led to the driver,

whether upon one seat or theother; ninth, in

a double socket-lever head for the ton gue-lever, whereby said lever may be adjusted to be convenient to the hand ofthe driver, upon whichever seat he may be.

My machine is constructed with a rectangular main frame, inclosing at one end a main driving and supporting wheel, and supporting the required gearing to transmit the motion of the same to the other operative mechanism of the machine. An adjustable tongue is provided for the proper attachment of the team by which the machine is to be advanced. A cutting apparatus of usual construction is secured along the front edge of the said main frame upon the grain side of the tongue. The opposite end of the'machineis carried upon a grain-wheel, as heretofore, and the cut grain is received upon an endless apron moving behind and parallel to the cutters.

A triangular elevator frame is mounted upon the mainframe above the main wheel, to carry the cut grain from the main apron over said wheel, andv deliver it to an automatic binder attached to the main frame outside of said wheel, or to persons riding upon a platform provided therefor, and similarly attached to said main frame. 'A horizontal reel is supported'above and in front ot' the cuttingapparatus, and is driven by a chain or belt in the usual way.l

These parts are, briefly, similar to those ordinarily in use in machines of this class, and do not require more specific mention, as they do not form any part of the invention as herein claimed. -Y

That others may more fully understand the invention, which is designed to be included in this patent, I will more particularly describe its several parts, having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein l Figure lisaperspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 isa plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer end of my machine, with binders tables attached; Fig. 4 is a transverse-section' of thatpart of the machine shown in Fig. 3. Fig'. 5 isa side elevation of spcctive ot' the axle-pinion pin-plate. Fig.;8 is a perspective of the three-horse` evener brace-plate. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the double-socket tongue-lever head; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of main wheel.` Fig.` 11 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 12

is an elevation ofthe hub-s1eeves,separated.`

Figs. 13,14, 15, and 16 are details in refer ence to the wheel.

A is the 'main frame with the cutting-appa ratus. B is the divider, and O is the apron on which the cut grain is received and conveyed to the elevator `D.

Machines of 1, this class, as heretoforercon-z structed, have not generally been provided with any means of adjustment or adaptation `tolong or short grain-stalks, and hencethey have necessarily been constructed with reference-to the longest, and when used `iufields of` average or less than. averagegrowththe grain has been liable-,itc uneven distribution 1 on the carryingvapron-thatis ,to say, vby, the action of the reel a or the` wind, olwon account of the light puffy conditionof thegraimsome ofthe grain will fallfarther backl-'uponthe apron than other, and the` butts.l willnot be` even. This not only interferes with the proper action of the carrier and elevator, butwith'the convenience and facility offbindingwalso.- To obviate this disadvantage `I Vplace a tail-board, a E lengthwise a of the machine, behind the .a the elevator withone or 'more belts provided with lugs or teeth projecting up through `the slots of a: plat-form in front of said belt or belts, so that the grain to beelevated is caused to slideupon said platform bythe teeth which project through its slots. This method requires thebelt tobe drawn very tightly `over itsrollers, orit will sag, and the ,points only ofits teeth will project.j It' drawn tightly the frictionupon its roller-bearing is increased. If it sags, thev resistance of the straw comes upon the ends of the teeth, andthe looseness ofthe belt permitsthem to bend over backward, sothat, in any event, the power required is increased. To obviate` this disadvantage, I construct a close platform, F, 'with a series of belts, D I), passing over its front surface. These belts pass over` rollersvat the top and` bottom, and each belt is, provided with .pro-` jecting lugs or fingers dd, against which the grain rests as it is transported up theplatform F. ByA these means it is not required that the belts should betightened more than sucient to prevent them from slipping upon their rollers ff, and the grain rests always at the bases ofthe teeth, so that there is little tend? ency to make them turn backward, and the power required is decreased atthe top. The

platform F is slotted so that it extends above.

the upper roller f,"so that the u belts D pass through said slots and "behind the platform, and the grain is thereby taken ott' the teeth dr Theslats at the upper end of the platform F have extension-strips e of sheet metal nailed `fast*` to them; and said extension-strips are bent over above the upper roller and fastened to the bar H, which is a part of the elevatorframe. u These metallic strips lacts as strippers grain, because of thegrassthejmorebr less` contain, arcrmoreiliableto be entangled with the elevator-teeth, and to be drawn down into .the slotsybetween the strippers than the heads,

and lhave, `therefore,enlarged said 1slots` at (theirlowerendsadjoining the bar H, as at a, and have found this enlargementfto be a complete remedy. Said enlargements may be made at al1 theslots,though-[have 4.found it to be yunnecessary to inalethem` exceptiat` the two slots at the front orbutt 1 end ofthe elevator. The elevator-frame is-triangularin transverse section, and is composed `ofthe beamsI and J, the upper ends yof which are rigidly secured together, and thelower ends are seated upon gthelmaiu frame, which therebv forms thebase of the triangle above mentioned."

It has been found necessary to `place the forward edge ofthe elevator as tar forward as the points ofthe cutters,toinsurethe proper j carriage of the butts ofthe grain, and there forel the `forward beams IJ are in advanceot the forward girt of the main frame.` Heretof fore theyhave been` supported `upon metallic `brackets, but I, prefer to extend the end beam of `the main frame beyond theforward girt far enough to receive andsupportthe lower end of the beaml, as shown in Fig. l.

When the grain is very heavy, or the ground y soft,it' is necessary to employ three horses to` draw fthe harvester. At other `times two horses may suffice. Itis then of some importance to construct the eveners so that they can readily be shifted for two to three horses. To effect-this object I employ the evener K` and angle-brace L, which is justlong enough to set the evener-pivot ott' the proper distance. The angle-brace L is secured to the tongue M` by `a bolt through the same hole otherwise occupied by the hammer-bolt.' The hammerstrap c is swung ofi' sidewise, so that the hammer-bolt passes through it, andthrough thel evener into the angle `plate, as shown, While a `shorter bolt passes through the hammer-strap and the vangle-plate L near its ex-` tremity. This makes` a `firm triangular struc-l ture, the base of which is the tongue, and the evener Klis pivotedto its apex. When two` horses only are to be used the evener K and'` plateL are removed, and an ordinary doubletree isfsubstituted `upon the` tongue, the ham 1 mer-strap then occupying the usual position;

over the tongue.

Heretofore the segment-rack N has been provided with a plate for its secure attach-' ment to the side bar of the main frame, `and vthe main pinion-box has been independently bolted to the said side bar.' rllhe slightest looseness of the fastening-bolts, or the usual Ayielding of thejoints of the machine, will disturb the relation of the axes of the main wheel and main pinion-shafts. Itherefore extend the segment-plate O forward as far as` the main pinion-shaft, and constructit with' the collar b at its forward end, through which the end of the pinion-shaft box is inserted,

and thereby the centers of main wheel and,

an axle, tf, near to each end of which a smalll pinion, 7c, is rigidly fastened. 'Iheends of the axle rest in curved grooves J in the seg-v ment-plates O, and the pinions k mesh with vthe cogs ofthe segment gear or rack l, so that the rotation of said axle i will cause it to travel up or down said segment-gear, and raise or lower the main frame accordingly.

Vhen at rest the axle is fixed, and prevented from turning, by pins inserted through holes m in the rim of the segment-plate, and, correspondingly, through the end of the axle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7., The object ot' this part of my invention is to furnish a ready and convenient means for raising or lowering the main wheel 5 and 1 havev therefore secured to the axle, near to, or attached to 'one of, the pinions 7c, a plate, a, having radial sockets on one side for the reception of a convenlent lever, whereby the axle may be revolved,

and the pinion forced to travel up or down.

It is sometimes desirable to lock the wheel and axle together, as when shifting the lever from one socket of plate n to another 5 .and I have, therefore, secured to the opposite end of the axle ia perforated plate or disk, p, through one ofthe perforations of which a pin maybe thrust into one of a series of corresponding holes in the Wheel-hubbehind said plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. I also' use this locking device when I desire to raise or lower the lframe by drawing or backing of the machine, as thereby the turning' of the wheel forces the axleto revolve and move up or down in the segment-grooves j of the plate O.

The rails g g and h It are placed on the frame for the reception-and support of an automatic binding-machine; but such machines cannot be used at all times. I have therefore provided my harvester with removable receptacles and binders tables,vwhereby it may be converted at any time to a hand-binding harvester. These attachments consist of a receptacle and binding-table, P, foot-board or platform Q, chuteboard It, and Windboard q. The tableP is bolted to the said bars Ioftheelevator-l frame at o. Its outer edge is supported upon feet i', the lower ends of which rest in sockets in the foot-'board Q. The foot-board Q is attached to the harvesterframe by means of hooks s, permanently placed -on said frame, and eyes attached to said foot-board to engage with said hooks. Braces t, which form the foundation for .said foot-board, extend under the main frame, as shown in Fig. 4, and give it a firmbearing to support the weight of the bind- 'ers and their table. f

When the machine is being moved along 'the road, through bars or gates, it is desirable to reduce the width occupied by the machine. The platform P will fold up, turning upon the bolts o, and the platform upon the hooks s.

The chute-board R is placed under the bar H,and extends down to the receptacle P, to conduct the grain from the strippers to said receptacle. Said chuteboardis held in place by dowels a at its lower edge, its upper edge resting against, and being Vkept in place by, the rails h.

A detachable wind-board, q, is arranged at the front end of the receptacle P, and extends th ence up to the top of the elevator-frame, to

prevent the wind or atmospheric disturbance,

dueto the motion of the machine, from catching and displacing the loose grain as it falls down over the chute-board. The said windboard is secured by a dowel at its bottom, and at its top in a recess behind the cross-bar c.

When the automatic binding-machine-isemployed with the harvester, it is desirable `that the drivers weight should be nearly, or exactly, in line with the main wheel, because the apron of the machine is more than sufficiently heavy to counterbalance the weight of the binding-machine, and that the driver may be near to control the operation ofthe binder; but when two persons are riding upon the foot board Q, the case is different, for then the weight of the apron end of the machine is not sufficient to connterbalance the weight ofthe binders, and, therefore, it is necessary to locate the driver over the apron end. vIo provide a proper seat for the driver in rear ot' the cutting apparatus, I place two horizontal bars, S T, upon the ends ofthe elevator-frame, and projecting therefrom toward the grain end of the machine. A diagonal bar, U, is secured to these horizontal bars, its rear end being farther from the elevator than its frontend,

and upon said rear end the drivers seat V is adjusted, making this bar long and diagonal. I employ boys as drivers, and maintain a proper balance of the machine, with a light or heavy driver. When the drivers weight is not required to counterbalance the weight of the binders his seatV is shifted tothe rear of the elevator-frame, where .it is secured to the post P', as shown in Figs. l and 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 4., It is necessary to carry the driying-reins over the machine, and out of the Way of accidental contact with the elevator-teeth or whateveris carried up thereby. I therefore mount a line-guide, W, on the front end ofthe eleva- Vclear ofthe elevator.

t tor-frame, and extending above and backward over said frame far enough to raise -the reins The guide WV has aring at its upper end, through which the reins pass.

When these-at Vis shifted to the bar U,

the reins require to be ledin thatwdirection,` Il there and also to be adjusted lower-down. fore make the guide W adjustable at itsifast` is raisedor depressed at itsreariend with said main frame, by means 'of a post,fw, con-` necting-rod X and lever Y, said lever being.

inserted in a socket `in the platey, which is pivoted to a segment-plate', m, whichfisbolted` to therear bar or girt` of themain frame.'`

The plate wis notched :or` perforated along:`

its edge, and the lever-plate y is provided with a stud, which `engageswithoneior anotherot said notches, as may be desirable,`and thus the tongue is locked in anyv desired position.

When the driverlis on the seat, located i upo'n the bar U, the lever Y wouldxbe out ot' his4 reach,and I therefore make the socketorilever plate y with two sockets, as shown in Figs. et and 9, into either ot' which the lever may be inserted, and brought withinl reach of the drivers hand upon whichever Yseat he may be located.

For convenience, I employ for `the several purposes of raising themain frame by means i ot' the plate n, and for controlling the tongue by means ot' the plate y, a metallic bar or 1ever, which is fitted to all ofi the several sockets named.4 Y

The wheel G` belongs tov that class of harvester-wheels `called expanding or truss wheels, which are provided with two ranks of spokes starting `near eachother in the rim, (ordinarily from two to four inches -apart,`) and diverging from Athe plane of the wheel asthey approach the center, `where each rank` is inserted in a line oi' radial `socketsin a "metallic hub-head, of which there isone foreach rank, separate from each other, and each having its independent bearing upon the axle. These hub-heads are somewhatv Widely separated, and are drawn together by a series ot' bolts ruiming through them parallel to the axle oi the wheel, whereby the ends ofthe spokes are i'orcedontward and into the rim-sockets, the

tire being first made, and the'rim, spokes, and hub-heads' placed in position therein. Heretofore the drivinggear has been attnched to thewheel by bolting it -directly to the spokes, wherebyiit is wholly supported.`

` This form ot' construction makes a Vvery strong and very light wheel, but in use is at-` tended with solne very serious practical diculties, viz: First, the diiiiculty ot' keeping the whecltin its assigned position on the axle, as the wheel on its bearings in the hub-heads is constantly shortened as the spokes are tightened 5 second, the great friction and wear on the axle, occasioned by the cramping thereon oi" one or both 'ot'. the hub-heads. This cramping is causedby the unequal tightening ofthe bolts, or by any sudden rack or side strain which the wheel may receive wheniin use, the axle' being the only thing that keeps the hub-heads true or in line as to their bearings. Third, the displacement of the driving-gear,

both with reference tothe bearing and the rim ot' thewheel, as well as the connectinggearing asthe hub-headsare drawn together to tighten the spokes, audits displacement as thehub-head for its rank of spokes is tilted over and out of lineas to theother head.

The difficulties are' obviated in my wheel,

`wherein is interposed between the axle and the hub-heads a sleeve, to which one of the heads should be iixed, whilethe other is allowedl! to slide freely thereonzas the wheel is tightened; and the second part of my invention consists in attaching the idriving-gear l lirmly to one of the hub-heads, whereby the gear-rim is notdisplaced by the movement ot' `thespokes` in tightening up the wheel, `or

otherwise. t

Therspokes are crossedsso that an equal obliquity and power Vot' expansion are obtained with lesslength of hub,and thereby the gearring maybe brought laterallywithin the rim `of the wheel, and-protected from dropping ot' mud and obstructingimatter.` A sliding stop is also placed on the sleeve` and hub, whereby they are permitted to move upon each other aXially,but notvto rotate, and thereby the driving-strain is equally distributed between the two ranksot' spokes.

A isthe rim or i'elly of the wheel, which I prefer to make ot' alisingle piece oi' bent wood. `'Ihe tire b may be welded orl ri 'reted at its ends, and the felly expands and fills it. C is the central sleeve ot' thehub, and is fitted upon the axle. At one end of the sleeve C there is a flange, E', provided on its back or inner face with ribs e arran 'ed in )airs so as to form radial sockets totsupprt` those ends of the first rank of spokes g", which butt against the sleeve and liange E. Hub head or collar F is fitted to slide upon the opposite end ot' the sleeve C', and said collar is also provided with ribs c', arranged in radial pairs similar to those on the flangeE, and for the similar purpose ot' receiving andsupporting those ends of the secondranks of spokes 11, which butt against the collariF. i

In the drawings, the spokesgig belong to the tirst rank, and the spokes 71, h to the second rank. This mode of'designation then will `be adopted in thisdescrption for convenience only, as thc spokes themselves do not differ from each other.` Theouter ends ot' the spokes of each rank are confined in sockets arranged vin lines in the inner surface of the rim, and

the lines of the two ranks are parallel and on either side ot' the central line of said rim.

The ranks are adjusted so that the spokes cross each other, as shown, so that as much outward thrust can` be obtained as heretofore, but with a hub materially-shorter. Bolts I' I' connect the ange E' and collar F', and force them toward each other, the collar sliding along the sleeve C'. This operation forces the inner ends of the ranks toward each other,

and as their outer ends 'rest in permanent' sockets they correspondingly move outward, and i'orcethe felly against the tire, and thus the wheel is expanded.

The gear-ring J' is supported upon radial arms, which are connected withv the end of the sleeve C'-it may be by casting said ring, with its arms and the sleeve, all in one piece, or, as I prefer, by casting said ring with its arms and a central hub, which is bored and fitted to the end of said sleeve andV rigidly at- Lached there by riveting down the end of the sleeve, or by any other proper means. v

In practice I provide' the sleeve C' with a shoulder, c', against which the hub of the gear-ring is seated, and also with a small stud or projection, j', Which engages with a corresponding recess in the shoulder c', to. determine the position of said ring on the sleeve.

This determination is useful in connection with a similar provision on the collar F', to Wit, a stud or feather, d', and groove z",where by the collar F' is prevented from rotating on the sleeve, While it may still slide freely back and forth thereon.

It is useful, as before stated, to provide the gear-ring hub with a determinate position corresponding denitely with the position of the collar F', as then the holes in said collar and hub for the reception of the bolts I' Will'always be opposite each other without further trouble.

It Will be evident that when the gear-ring J' is employed and constructed as above described, the before-mentioned flange E' is replaced bythe hub of the gear-ring, and the latter is provided with socket-ribs on its back, in the manner heretofore described as t0 said flange E'. The collar F' may be provided with sprockets K', so as to carry a chain to transmit motion to some other mechanism, such as the reel of a harvester, 86e.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as new is l. The enlargementa at the terminations of the stripper-slats e e, for the purpose set forth.

on the bar U.

responding With the holes in said plate, substantially as set forth.

6. A harvesting-machine, substantially as described, the frame of which is provided with rails h h g g and hooks s and pivot-bolt o, or

their equivalents, for the purpose of attaching a binding-machine or binders7 table and footboard.

7. The binders foot-board Q, constructed with the braces t t extending under and snpported by the cross-bars of the frame A, and

hung upon the hooks s, combined With. the receptacle P, jointed to the timbers II, and supported at its outer s'ide upon folding legs,which rest in sockets in said foot-board, substantially as set forth.

8. A harvesting-machine, substantially as described, provided with the seat-post P' in rear of the elevator-seat V, and seat-bar U at the inner side of the elevator-frame.

9. The line-guide W, mounted upon the front end of the elevater-frame andextending upward and backward, and adjustable in relation to the elevator and transferable seat V, for the purpose set forth.

l0. The lever head-plate y, provided with -v two sockets, oblique to each other, for the lever Y, whereby said lever may be placed convenient to the` hand of the driver, whether seated at the rear of the elevator-frame or up- SYLVANUS D. LOOKE.

Witnesses:

E. P. MARKHAM, WILLIAM KELYER. 

